Australia - National Broadband Network - Introduction and Overview

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Last updated: 19 Mar 2014 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 12

Analyst: Paul Budde

Synopsis

Australia’s NBN had a long gestation, and since being implemented in 2012 it has undergone significant changes in its business plan and architecture. These changes were wrought by the change of government following the election in September 2013. The December 2013 strategic review of the NBN and the company responsible for building the network, established a new framework. Instead of 93% of the population being covered by FttH, the new architecture has called for a hybrid network incorporating FttH and FttN, utilising existing DSL and HFC plant.

Overall, the development of the NBN reflected a serious response to the poor quality of Australia’s broadband infrastructure, by comparison with advanced economies globally. It was clear that government intervention was required to rectify this dire situation, a concept supported in the early years of the century by the Liberal government and the Labour opposition. Telstra’s aggressive determination to maintain its monopoly obliged the government to develop measures which led to company’s structural separation. Concurrently, and stimulated by the economic conditions brought on by the GFC, in 2009 the government changed its broadband infrastructure plan from a regional to a national focus. This was linked to the development of the digital economy, which would support policies relating to e-commerce, e-health, e-education and smart grid infrastructure. These were all aimed at utilising the NBN for a myriad of purposes beyond broadband.

Between 2009 and 2012, NBN Co designed the architecture of the national network. Legislation and contracts were completed in 2012 and shortly afterwards the rollout started, based on a three year plan that was costed at $36 billion, including a government investment of $27 billion. The election of the Coalition government in 2013 resulted in the key strategic review. As a result the FttH plan was abandoned and instead a so called Multi Mix Technology (MTM) solution was introduced. This will see the continuing use of both the copper and the HFC networks.

This report provides an overview of the project since its inception in 2007, as well as an insight into the steps that have been taken subsequently.

Companies mentioned

Companies mentioned in this report include – NBN Co, Telstra.

Hot topics and technologies mentioned

Hot topics and technologies mentioned in this report include – Fibre, NBN, infrastructure, FttH, FttN, government, private sector, social and economic benefits, analysis of the NBN Co strategic review..

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